Katarina Bishop

Hello! I’m here today today to talk about one of my favorite fictional character: Katarina (Kat) Bishop, from Heist Society, a book by Ally Carter. I read a lot of books, and watch more movies than I’d like to admit, so picking a single character was so hard for me! I love them all, but they’re not the focus of this post. To start out, Katarina is about fifteen years old and has been raised as a con artist. After deciding she wanted a break from the life of crime, she broke into one of world’s best schools in order to try and live a normal life. It was working out alright, until she gets word that her dad (one of her only living family members) is being accused of theft from a powerful crime boss. Kat has to learn how to work with others and go back to her old ways in order to save her father. I love Kat because she is a determined character who is very smart, and loves her friends and family. She understands the sacrifices she has to make in order to save her family, but she definitely isn’t your typical female protagonist.

My Top Ten Favorite Books

Hi there! It’s Ashlyn. Again. As an avid reader and huge nerd, I’m here today to tell you about some of my favorite books and series. These recommendations span from anything to science fiction to killer romances. (Killer? Get it? No? Keep reading to see what I mean.) These books are not ranked in order, as I love all of these books equally. Happy reading!

  1. Heist Society

One of my favorite book series of all time is probably Heist Society, by Ally Carter (who also happens to be one of my favorite authors). In this book, the main character, Kat Bishop, lives in a world of crime. She and her family are master con artists. But when Kat tries to leave her old life behind, she gets pulled back into the game. In order to save who she loves, she must plan one more impossible job, and she doesn’t know who to trust. I love this book! The characters are smooth, the style sophisticated, and the concept unique. This is a must-read!

      2. The Hunger Games

Next up, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins! Now this is a popular one that actually deserves the hype. It’s a three book series (not including the prequel, which is also amazing) that has also been made into movies. I will say, I actually loved the movies, and thought they lived up to the books’ potential. In case you haven’t heard of it, this series centers around Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a dystopian world.  She lives in one of 13 impoverished districts, and her name is drawn to compete in the Hunger Games, at fight to the death for the people’s enjoyment. This series is absolutely amazing, angsty, and the series just gets better as it goes along.

3. Scythe

This next one is called Scythe, by Neal Schusterman. This is another dystopia (because it’s my favorite genre), and it’s also really good. It centers around two characters in a perfect world. Death, disease, and despair are all rid from the planet. However, as a means for population control, a select few people are chosen to be Scythes: humanity’s way of killing people in the most compassionate way possible. This is a great book if you’re not a fan of romance, and enjoy science fiction! I recommend this series highly, as the concepts and characters are so interesting.

4. The Westing Game

The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. This will always be a classic in my mind. It isn’t a hard read, nor is it very long, but it’s one I’ve reread time and time again. It revolves around lots of unlikely heirs to a mysterious man’s fortune. At the reading of the will, they discover that he didn’t die of natural causes, as they all thought. They all have to interpret the clues they are given, and no one can be trusted. Read this book!

5. Harry Potter

This one probably isn’t a surprise to you: Harry Potter, by JK Rowling. I won’t talk much about this one, but I will say: to everybody who hasn’t read this, you should! It may seem boring at first, but as you read, the books get better and better! My favorites in this series are the fourth and seventh books.

6. Bone Crier’s Moon

Bone Crier’s Moon, by Kathryn Purdie: Paris, death, and revenge? This book is about all of these things, and let me tell you-it’s amazing! There are a few main characters in this book: Ailesse, a Leuress responsible for protecting and guiding departed souls to the Underworld. But the job comes with a catch. She must find the one she is destined to love, enchant him, then kill him. However, Bastien, a different character has plans. One of the Leuress killed his father, and he won’t stop until he gets his revenge. This book might seem strange at first glance, but the plot twists and characters are worth it.

 

7. The Lunar Chronicles

Before I tell you that Cinder, by Marissa Meyer, is just another Cinderella retelling, let me assure you that this one is different than the others because it’s in the science fiction genre. In this retelling, Cinder lives in a futuristic world, and she is a cyborg mechanic-a second class citizen. With the plague running wild and the Lunars threatening war, this book is more than meets the eye. It’s unpredictable, unique, and has become a recent favorite.

 

8. Embassy Row

Embassy Row is another series by Ally Carter. The second and third books are my favorite. In this world, the main character, a rebellious girl, lives on Embassy Row in the country of Adria. Politics, mysteries, and danger lurk around every corner. Once again, things get much better after the first book.

9. Not if I Save You First

Yet another Ally Carter book, Not if I Save You First is a standalone novel in which the main character is best friends with the president’s son, Logan. Until, of course, she is forced to move to Alaska, away from all civilization. When Logan shows up seven years later after ignoring all communication from her, she is furious. But when Logan is kidnapped, and there is no way to call for help, she has to try to save him-all while trying to survive the freezing weather. I absolutely adore this book! Highly recommend.

10. Out of My Mind

 

 

It’s been a while since I last read Out of My Mind, by Sharon M. Draper. I will say though, I still love it, even if it makes me cry every time-yes, it’s that kind of book. It’s about a girl with a form of cerebral palsy, and she can move nothing but her thumbs. Unable to speak, she is stuck in a class far too easy for her. When she gets a chance to switch classes, she is thrilled at the chance to show her genius. However, her smarts are hard to communicate, and the other kids aren’t as nice as they seem to be. I highly suggest you read it.